Box-strapping machine



H 11 192%0 I A. G. G. GUENTHER BOX STRAPPING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. v, 1918 W m y G. G. GUENTHER BOX STRAPPING MACHINE .Hully m,191%.. m wm Filed Jan. v, 1918 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. G. "G. GUENTHER BOXSTRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. '7, 1918 7 Sheets-Sheet July I, 19%; 41,499,454

' A. G. G. GUENTHER BoX STRAPPING momma Filed Jan. 7, 191 '7Sheets-Sheet 5 m M mt m gawwm 11w Ho A. G. G. GUENTHIER BOX STRAPPINGMACHINE Filed Jan'. 7, 191a YSheets-Sheet 6 A. G. G. GUIENTHER BoxSTRAPPING momma Filed Jan. 7. 1918 7 sheets-sheet '1 ,UF CELIGAGO,ILLINOIS, mo, OF 'UJHLICAGU, ILLINOIS, A CORJPO'JLIUN 0F D no srenon rapplication Med January t, 1.911%. serial No. Mflfilld.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR G. G. Gonn- THER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the count of Cook and State of Illinois,have invente an Improvement in lBox-Strapping Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for supplying boxes or packages withtensional box strapping and oining the ends of the strapping. The objectof the invention is to provide a machine of the character described ofsimple andeconomical construction and eficient operation.

Other objects and advanta es of the invention will appear as theescription to follow proceeds.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a machine constructed inaccordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a foldable guide forming a part of theinvention;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the guide;

Fig. 5 is an elevation showin the method of suppprting the rolls upon wich the box or ac age rests;

1 6 1s a detailed enlarged elevation of the gifting mechanism forming apart of the machine;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the grippers for gripping theends of the box strapping;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged elevation of the rth forming means and the feedthere cm;

Fig. 9 is an elevation artly in section showing the crimping mec anism;

Figs. 10 to 16 are fragmentarg views showing in succession the steps int e operation of the formation, feeding, and final crimping of the girthforming means upon the strap;

Fi 1 is a perspective view of a ortion of a ox supplied with a boxbinder aving its ends jolned by the machine of my invention.

Fi re 18 is an enlarged detail view in end 0 ovation, showing the partsin elevated position, and a box in the process of being strapped.

. Figure 19 is an enlarged vlew 1n longitudinal section of a box guidetaken on H 1 The machine in general comprises a support upon which aoxor package is placed and strap supplying mechanism which operates tofeed a binder of an appropriate length under the box upon the sup ort,and to' old up the strap against the si es of the box. The box issubsequently raised, the ends of the strap are seized by clp jaws, andstretched into overlapping relation, and finally a reinforcin irth isapplied to the overlapped ends 0% the strip and the girth and the strapare crimped together into a tension resistin reinforced joint, afterwhich the box is discharged. The machine is adapted to accommodate asmany strapping heads as desired so as to suppl a box with as manybinders as may be nee ed to adequately bind it.

In the drawings, two strappin heads only are shown, the particular macine being selected for illustration being adapted to sup ly a box withtwo binders.

In tlie description to follow, and to facilitate a ready understandingof the machine, the essentia operations are first briefly explained,after which the detail description of the mechanism is given.

In the drawings, (Fig. I) B represents a box in position to be operatedupon by the machine. The box is trundled onto a latform in the machinecomprising the ro ls 1,. from a roller chute 2, either by hand or byravity, and comes to rest in the position inicated in Fig. 1. Slightlybelow the upper surface of the rolls 1 and movable past them, are aplurality of strap uides, each compris ing a central guide mem er 3 andwing uide members 4, these members being each a justable in length, aswill be subsequently described; The box is laced above the central guidemember 3. T e guide members 4 are each pivoted to the central guidemember 3 at the point and each provided with rojecting lug b secured tothe guide mem ers 4. The lug 6 has an extenslon 7 wh1ch projeets underthe stationary pin 8 mounted 1n the framework of the machine. Springs 9serve to kee the win members 4 in ahgnment with t e centra member 3 whenthe platform is at its lowermost position. The guides 34 are providedwith aligned channels 10-11. in their top surfaces. When the arts are inthe position shown in Fig. 1, a on h of box stra ping is fedalon the guies 3-4 by the eed wheel 12 and is cut ofi by means of the knife 13, themachine being rovided with adjustments (to be describef) so that thelength of strapping so rovided will be suflicient to form the binder orthe box. Subsequently, the entire platform upon which the guides 34 aremounted is raised by means of the cams 14 operating upon the frictionrollers 15 upon the lower bed plate member 60 of the platform. As theplatform carrying a box moves upwardly, the rojections 7 engagin withthe pins 8 whic are stationary an serve to swing th guides 4 on the pins5 and thus fold the win guide members 4 into the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 1 and thereby to fold the strap about the cornersof the box and lay it up against the vertical sides of the box. Shortlyprior to the time the win guide members 4 come up against the verticalsides of the box, projecting arms at the ends thereof strike the sidesof the box. These arms are ivoted adjacent the ends of the uide mem ers4, as at 21, and rovided wit fingers 22, which are normally ehind orunderneath the strap, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. When the ends 20 ofthe arms, however, strike the sides of the box, these fingers will berocked forwardly to bend the strap over the top corners of the box. Theends of the straps, bein 'thus bent inwardl will ride into the c annelides 25, an their ends will be fed through t e clampin jaws 26 slidablymounted on the guide rai s 30. By this time, the box will have finishedits rising movement and have come up against the bottom of the strappingheads to be more fully described in detail. Subsequently, the rockingarms 32 which .bear upon the clamping jaws 26 at their lower endsthrough a yielding sprin connection are moved toward each other %y theoperating cams 35 to stretch the strap tightly about the box. Meanwhile,a reinforcing girth has been in the process of formation in the girthforming mechanism forming a part of this machine, the steps in theformzv tion of the reinforcing girth being clearly illustrated in Figs.10 to 14, where it is seen that the girth in the form shown in Fig. 14slides down a guideway 36 oil the guideway 37 pivoted thereto, and comesto rest astraddle the overlapped ends of the strapping, as

clearly shown in Fig. 16. Subsequently, the crimping jaws 40 and 41 aremoved toward each other to crimp the overlapped ends of the strap andthe reinforcing girth into the tension resisting joint shown inperspective in Fig. 17. After this, the strapped box is lowered andtrundled out of the machine, a new box taking its place. This particulardescription of the essential operating parts of the machine will serveto indicate the detail description to follow and make clear theoperation of the various parts.

The rolls 1 which form a stationary receiving support for the box atthe'hottom of the machine, are mounted at their ends in uprights (F i 5)forming a part of the casting 51 exten ing entirely across the machineand having enlarged bosses 52 at each end throu h WlllCl'l pass theshafts 53 (Fig. 2). The shafts 53 at their ends are supported in thecurved brackets 54 integral with the uprights 55 extending upwardl fromthe base late 56 ofthe machine. y this construction, it will be apparentthat the rolls 1 form a stationary receiving support upon which the boxmay be trundled as it enters the machine to be operated upon.

The strap-guides 3-4 (Fi s. 2, 3, and 4), whose function has beenescribed, are carried by lugs 58, each connected by bolts 59 with thecentral guide member 3, the lugs 58 being formed integrally with thecross rod 60 provided with integral extensions having collars 61, whichslide upon the four vertical posts 62 of the machine. For stren h andstability, the collars 61 are provi ed with integral downward extensions63 terminating in lower collars 64 also slidable upon the corner posts62.

The rods 60 lie underneath a space between two adjacent rolls 1 and moveup freely between them. To reinforce the construction and render itstable, longitudinal plates 66 are provided transversely of the rolls.These longitudinal plates 66 are integral with the rods 60, which occupythe space between the bosses 52 and the uprights 50, as clearly shown inFig. 5. This construction results in a strong skeleton platform whichmoves freely from a position below to a position above the stationaryrolls 1 and which'carries the guides 3-4, which when in lowered positionare just underneath the tops of the rolls 1 to ermit the box to betrundled above them into the machine. The rods 60 are provided with lugs70 containing the cam rollers 15 previously described engaged withthecams 14 upon the shafts 72 ournalled in the uprights 55 heretoforedescribed. By this construction, it is apparent that upon the revolutionof the shaft 72 the cams 14 will serve to raise the entire skeletonplatform and therefore the uides 34.

The function of t e guides 3-4 has preof the bottom members 81 and 83vviously been described. .1 will now describe in detail theirconstruction. 1 The guide 3 is made up as follows :-One part of theguide comprises the bottom plate 80, Figure 21, connected to which arethe flared guide members 81, slotted as indicated at 82. The second partof the member 3 is made up of the bottom plate 83. The members 80 and 83both project beyond the flanges 81 at each end to aflord a bearing forthe guide members 4. The bottom member 83 is firml secured betweentheflanges 81 by the, bolts 84. By this means, the guide member 3 can beadjusted at will to suit various sizes of boxes. U on the bolts 5previously described, carrie in the ends are pivoted the side flanges 86of the guides 4, one of these side flanges being provided with the interal lug 6 having the extension 7 revious y described. Between the sideanges 86011 the guide members 1 is the bottom plate 87 secured thereinby bolts 88 in slots 89 in the side flanges 86. The bottom plate 87extends beyond the guide flanges 86 and is provided with supplementaryguide flanges 90 and with the arm 22 previously described. It isapparent therefore that the members 3 and 1 can be adjusted in len h tosuit the width and hei ht of various oxes.

he pins 8 previously described which operate the arm 7 to fold up theguide members 3 and 1 when the skeleton platform is raised, are carriedon uprights 91 mounted on the casting 51 previously described. Thismechanism. operates as follows When the cams 14 raisethe skeletonplatform, the box will be carried upwardly upon the guides 3 and 1, andas the platform .moves upwardly the pins 8 will fold guides 4 up againstthe vertical sides of the box.

In this folding motion, the springs 9 will pass centers and hold thevuides 1 against the side of the" box until t e rollers 95 'on adjustablerods 96 are reached, these rollers 95serving to hold the'guide firmly inposition durlng the remamder of the operations. As soon as the guides 4approach the sides of the box, the upper ends of the.

stra will be folded over the top corners of t e box bythe fin ers 22. v

1 will now describe means for feeding the strap into the guides 34 andfor cuttin itofi. p

he strap S is led from any suitable source of supply about the frictionfaced strap feeding wheel 12, passing about it andleaving it through theguide 100. The feed wheel 12 is journalled in the upri ht standard 101upon the bed plate 56 an is provided with a ratchet 102 with which isengaged the pawls 103 on the crank 104 secured to the seat 105 coaxialwith the wheel 12. The gear 105 is operated by the segment 106 which isslotted as indicated at 107 to adjustably receive the link 108 connectedat its other end in a slot .109 in the rocking arm 110 pivotally mountedupon the shaft 53. The arm 110 is operated by a cam 111. It is apparentthat this mechanism can be set to feed any desired length of strap so asto provide binders suitable to difl'erent sized boxes. The cut-'ofl'blade 13 operates through a recess in the guide 100 and is mounted-on anarm 115 pivoted on the shaft 53 and operated by a link 116 from theeccentric 117. The cam 111 and eccentric 117 aremounted in the shaft120, .which is driven by the worm 121 on the shaft 122 engaged by themotor M (Fig. 2) and the shaft 120 drives the shaft 72 by a spiral gearmeshing with the spiral gear 123 on the shaft 72.

It will be readily understood that the guides 34, feed wheel and otherconnections, are duplicated for each binder which it is desired to putabout the box. Thus, the shaft 120 is shown in Fig. 2 to drive shafts 72for two sets of cams 14 and likewise two feed wheels and associatedmechanisms.

1 will now describe the mechanism for stretching the binder about thebox and applying the joint in the overlapped ends of the binder. Thismechanism comprises what may be termed strapping heads, onev for eachbinder, any number of which may be employed in the machine according astothe number of binders it is desired to apply to the box. The strappingheads are indicated in general b are each sli ably mounted by means ofshoes 128011 guide'rails 127 securely bolted to the top frame structure128 which comprises a vertically adjustable platform. The platform 128is provided with spaced collars 130 freely slidable on the threadedupper portions 131 of the four corner posts 62. Un-

reference character 125. They derneath the lower collar upon each cornerpost is a thrust bearing 133 which rests upon the threaded collar 134,this'construction being duplicated at each corner post. The endlesschain 135 is engaged with the four collars 134 and by this means the aentire 11 per sectipn of the machine may readily adjusted up and down totake boxes of different sizes. In order to locate the binders at adesired location with respect to the boxes, the side members of theplatform 128 are slotted as indicated at 137 and the shoes 127 areadjustably secured therein by bolts 138. By this means, the strappingheads may be set at different distances apart and in differentlocations. For the purposes of stability, outrigger shafts 140 areprovided upon which are fixed collars 141 secured to the framework ofthe strapping heads, the'shafts 140 being slidable in the enlarged endsof the platform 128. This tends to steady the construction throughout,and causes all the strapping heads to move in unison.

The strapping heads in general comprise an inverted V-shaped casting 150havingan enlarged apex as shown, this construction being slidable backand forth upon I the guides .127 by means of the shoes 126 as reviouslyexplainedand being steadied by eing engaged with the guide rods 140 bymeans of the collars 141..

V I will first describe in detail the stretching mechanism associatedwith each strapping 22 and-fed into the head. It will be remembered thatas the box is raised, the ends ofthe strap are bent over the top cornersof the box by thefingers g uides'25 passing into the clamping jaws. heclamping block 26 comprises an extended shoe 152 having a channel 153,and having an enlarged portion 154 in which is a slot 155 having aflared. entrance 156. Mounted in the block 154 is a wedge 157 having afin 158 which slides in a suitable interior roove in the block 15 1, theconstruction being such that.

the wedge 157 offers no resistance to the endwise movement of the strapinto the slot 155 from the flared end but tightens on the stra andclamps it as the block is moved to t e right (Fig.7). It willbeapparent, then, that these clamping jaws received the strap as soon asthe box reaches 1ts uppermost position, in which its upper surface issubstantially in contact with the lower surface of the framework 150 ofthe strapping head. The clamping blocks 26 are mounted upon suitableguide rails 160 secured upon the casting150, and the arms 161 bear uponthe rear faces of theblocks 154 by means of friction rollers 165, linkconnections 166 causin the clamping blocks to move backward wit the arms161. The arms 161 are pivoted upon the bolts 167 and are providedattheir rear sides with bosses 168 through which project upwardly andloosely the bolts 169 equipped with nuts 170 between which and the topsof the bosses 168. are interposed the strong springs 171. The bolts 169are continued through the bosses 168 and provided with hooks 172 withwhich are engaged slots in the ends 173 of arms 32 previously, describedwhich also pivot on the bolts 167. Adjustable contacts 175 are providedto cause the return of the arms 161.

Two shafts 180 are provided each of which extends through and forms apart of the working mechanism of any number of separate strapping heads,as can be clearly appreciated from Fig. 2. Upon these shafts are rigidlymounted the cams 35 previously described, which operate the arms 32, andthrough them the clamping blocks. The shafts 180 are drivenflthrough theintermediary of gears 181 by means of worms 182 on the shaft 183 mountedin the top of the casting 150, the shaft 183 being in turn driven bymeans of bevel gears from the shaft 184 which is connected by universaljoint link 185 with the vertical shaft 122 previously described. It willbe apparent while the shafts 180 serve to operate any number ofstrapping heads there is only one drive for these shafts, as justdescribed, i. e., one of the strappingheads only is supplied withdriving mechanism for the shafts 180, the remainder of the strappingheads omitting this mechanism.

From the construction 'so far described, it will be understood that thestrap ends being fed into the clamping. jaws, the latter are movedtoward each other by the cams 35, the limit of strain put on the strap,however, being controlled 'by the ad ustment and strength of the springs171. Upon inspection of Fig. 1, it will be observed that an elongatedvertical arch is provided in the center of the castin 150 and that itwill be across the mouth 0 this arch that the overjapiped ends of thestretched straps will be The crimping jaws come down this elongated archto straddle the strap and crimp it, but, first, however, a reinforcinggirth is partially formed and placed upon the strap so as to form anelement of the completed joint. Bearing this in mind, attention is nextdirected to the means for forming the reinforcing girth. Mounted uponthe upper part of each of the castings 150, as by means of bolts, one ofwhich, 200, is shown, is a casting 201 which carries, in a circularinsetformed therein, a reel 202 adapted to contain a coil of girth formingmaterial in the form of a strip of indefinite length and having theconfiguration shown, for instance, in Fig. 10, wherein it.is noted thatthe girth forming strip G is provided with paired notches 211. Mountedupon a horizontal flange 212 (Fig. 8) forming a. part of the casting201, are the two pin wheels 213 carrying vertical pins 214 so spaced asto engage the notches 211 (see Fig. 11). One of these pin wheels isgiven an intermittent rotation by the feed pawl 215 carried by the arm216 pivoted upon a depending lug from the flange 212 and operated fromthe small cam 217 on the right hand shaft 180 (Fig. 1). It will be notedat this point that the periphery of the casting 201 is extended to forma base plate 220, along which the strip feeds and which is cut away toaccommodate the pin. wheels 213. By this means, it is apparent that thestri G is fed forward the length of one girth or each cycle of themachine. By substituting different sized pin wheels, different sizedreinforcing girths can be made, as will be immediatel apparent. Formedintegrally with the casting 201 and affording a continuation of thelower feed plate 220 is a forming die 221 shown in Fig.

mounted in the collar 232 slidable in the standard 223, and a pm 234' isprovided to hold the collar 232 on the shaft 231. Slidable upon theshaft 231 is the collar 235, spaced from but integral with the collar232, also running in vertical guideways in the standard 223.

Between the collars 232 and 235, is the fixed collar 236, secured to thestandard 223. Between the collar 232- and the fixed collar 236, is thelight recovery spring 237, and below the collar 235 is the heavycompression spring 238 through which the pressure of t e upper die on te lower is eflected. The u per sprin 237 functions to return the dieailer the ownward stroke thereof; the spring 238 cushions'thepressure ofthe die. The die is operated by the link 240 connected to the collars232 and 235 from the cam 217, the link 240 being curved at its lower end241 and provided with the roller 242 for this purpose. a

By this means, it will be apparent that the strip is given the formationshown in F i 13.

imultaneously with this forming operation, the knife 250, fastened onthe block 222, cuts the formed strip along the dotted line 251 shown inFig. 13, and the partially formed girth slips downa raceway secured tothe castin 201 and com rising a lower member 36 w ich the partial yformed girth straddles and a cover plate 253, which keeps the girth onthe plate 36. At the lower end of the member 36 is pivoted the guide 37previously described, the partially formed girth coming to rest upon theguide 37.

Slidably mounted in the elongated vertical arch in the castin 150 is acasting, an end view of which is shown in Fig. 8, and in a crosssectional side view in Fig. 9. This casting extends transversely of thestrapping head and comprises a vertical portion 261, which slidesvertically in the strapping head, and a horizontal portion 262. In thehorizontal portion 262, is provided the crimping, mechanism. Thishorizontal portion 262 comprises two side flanges 263 projectinginwardly at their lower ends, one of the flanges 263 being partially cutaway to accommodate the pivoted guide member 37, as clearly shown 1nFig. 8. Within the flanges 263, are mounted the crimping members 264 and265 each adapted to form the clearin type of joint shown in Fig. 17 deach provided with crimping jaws 40 (previously referred to) and withslight under H: projections 266. In the normal position 1 the partswhich is shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the partially formed girth G rides downthe plvoted guide member 37, stradg the atter, and comes to rest withits flanges just the projections 266, as clearly shown in Figs. 9 and15. 7 With the parts in this ositio'n, the o 270 upon one of the shafts180 strikes a roller 271 in the vertical portion 261 of the crimpercasting and causes this caste to move down the vertical arch against thetension of spring 272 and to assume the position shown in Fig. 16. Inthis operation, the guide 37 is swung back downwardl out of the way, thepartially formed n remaining supported upon the under ung projections266 (see Fig. 9). The 'rth is thus carried down to the bottom of t earch in the casting 150 and assumes a osition astride theoverlapped'strap ends w 'ch are raised somewhat from the box end by theclamping jaws 266, or into the position clearly shown in Fig. 16, whilethe jaws 40 and 41 assume posit1ons one on each side of the strap.Immediately after the parts have assumed this new position, a second cam286 upon the same shaft 180 strikes the vertical pin 281 mounted in thesame boss 282, which carries the roller 271 Fig. 9), depressing this pinagainst the spring 283 and causing its pointed lower end 284 to wedgebetween and separate the rollers 285 and 286.

The roller 285 is connected to the link287,

which is connected to the crim er ing jaw 41, above described The roller286 is connected to the two links 289, each of which is slidable in thedepending flanges 263 above described (see Fig. 8) and whlch areconnected to -.the crimper 264, carryin jaw 40. These links 289 arerovided wit inwardly turned flanges, as 0 early seen in Fig. 8, whichform the seats in which the link 287 slides relatively to them. The sideflanges 263 are slotted, as shown at 291, and the axles 292 of the tworollers 285 and 286 run in these slots. These axles are connected bysprings 293. By thisconstruction, it will be apparent that when the in281 is forced downwardl the jaw 40 ig. 9) will be moved to t e right andthe aw .41 to the left, crimping the strap and the reinforcing girth,wh1ch has been placed in a position to form the joint shown in Fig. 17.After the cams 280 have operated, one to force the entire casting 35down into cooperative relation with the strap, and the other to aeratethe crim ing 'aws, as just explaine, the s rings 2 2 an 283 occasion therecovery of t e parts.

Remembering the operation so far de- 265, carrystrapping heads to causeit to move longiscribed, it will be apfparent that the joint has bythis'time been ormed in the stretched and overlapping straps and thepackaging operation is completed. It is now only necessary to disengagethe straps from the clamping. jaws in' order to ermit the box to be.freely moved out 0 the machine. This result is accomplished in thefollowing manner All of the strapping heads are connected not onlybecause they all carry the same operating shafts 180, but also by therods 290 (Fig.2) to which each strapping head is bolted in any suitablemanner. Thereforethe movement imparted to one of the tudinally of themachine or in the direction of the motion of the box will becommunioated to all of the strapping heads, and

heads are likewise adjustably bolted. The

end of the bell crank 301 operates the ver- -ticalpin 303 slidablymounted in the vertical casting 304 secured'to an extension 305 shown indotted lines in Fig. 2 from the shoe 126 of the first strapping head1253 The extension 305 (Fig. 2) carries a roller 306, and a roller 307is adjustably mounted in the slot 137 in the platform 128 adjacent theroller 306 by means of the .bolt 308 Figure 6 and the spring 310 Figure2 is secured at one side of the enlar ed end of the platform 128 and atthe ot er ,end to the shoe 126. By this means, it will be apparent thatall of the strapping heads after, the joint has been completed will be.moved sharply a short distance to one side of the strap they have juststretched and joined. 4

Taking into effect now the configuration of the cams 35, it will beapparent that they comprise an extended section and a step-down portion312. This is for the purpose of permitting the arms 161 which operatethe clamping jaws to move back slightly as soon as the joint formingoperation has been completed, the springs 313 efi'ecting this result. Itwill be apparent therefore that the clamping jaws, after the joint hasbeen completed, move back slightly and at {the same time of courserelease the strap owing to! the wedge construction thereof, clearlyapparent from Fig. 7. At this juncture, the strapping heads are movedsideways by'the mechanism just described, which carries the clampingblocks 26 side'wise off thestrap, the strap coming out of the side ofthe slot 155 (see Fig. 7). Subsequently, the raising cams 14 lower theskeleton platform, which carries the guideways 34 upon 1. The .wing guies 4 at about the time they are released by the rolls 95 are flippedback into their original horizontal position by reason of the fact thatthe inclined fear face of the projection 7 strikes, the pins 330 carriedon extensions 331 from the standards 91. This swings the wing guides 4out;- wardly, causing the springs 9 to cross the pivotal center 5 andassume the position shown in Fig. 1, thus holding the wing guides down.f

It will be apparent from the description that a box is trundled intothemachine and during the strappin operation is raised so that it is'supporte on the bottom upon the guides 3, while the bottom of thecastings 150 substantial] touch it at the top. It is apparent, thereore, that the machine must be correctly adjusted to take boxes ofdifferent vertical dimensions. Otherwise the box would be crushed orsome of the mechanism damaged in the event of a toohl h box being putinto the machine. In orr ler to prevent this contingency, I provide theoutriggers 335 attached to the collars 130 onthe entrance side of themachine. These outriggers carry thecross rod 336 upon which areadjustably mounted the stops 337. These stops extend below the lowersurface of the castings 150 by an extent exactly equal to the distancethe box is raised by the cams 14. Thus, any box which will pass underthe stops 337 cannot be damaged or damage the machine, because its topcannot be raised further than the distance between the bottoms of thestops 337 and the bottoms of the castings 150, and this distance isexactly the distance the cams 14 will raise the box. The stops 337 areadjustablenp and down with the platform and serve as automaticregulators. It

.is only necessary to operate the chain 135 so as to bring the. stops337 into position where they just graze the top of a box passing intothe machine to eifect automatically the adjustment of the machine totake a box of thatv vertical dimension and it is impossible to get intothe machine a box large enough to be damaged by, or damage,

the machine.

Having now described the machine of my invention, and although Ihave'laid particular stress throughout upon the operation thereof sothat it has been clearly outlined. I shall recapitulate the essentialoperations of the machine. A box to be strapped is trundled down alongthe rollers 2 passing from these rollers onto the stationarv rollers 1(Fig. 2). At the beginning of the operation, with the box in position asdescribed, the guides 3.4 are aligned horizontally and are justunderneath the top of the rollers 1. With the box in position, the strapfeed mechanism first operates to pass in a series of binders appropriateto the box to be strapped and to cut on these binders, leaving them uponthe aligned guides 34=. After this operation. the raising cams-raise theskeleton platforms which carry the guides 3-4 so that the central guides3 come up between-the rollers under the box, pick up the box, andproceed upwardly. At this time, the projections 7 on the wing guides 4engage the pins 8 and are thus folded up to slap the strap ends upagainst the vertical sides of the box, the springs 9 in this operationcrossing center and holding the strap in its new position. In thecontinued operation, 'the fingers 22 are oper. ated because the leverarms on which they are mounted strike at the ends opposite from thefingers against the sides of the box and bend the strap over the topcorners of the box. In other. words, while the box is moving upwardlythe strap has been laid by means of the guides 3-4 around three sides ofthe box, folded over the top corner of the box and projects inwardly.Simultaneously with the folding of the strap over the top corners of thebox, the ends of the strap strike the guides 25, pass along these guidesand into the clamping jaws 26 and the box comes up to substantialcontact with the lower faces of the castings 150 of each strapping head.By means of the cams 85, the clamping jaws are next moved toward eachother, pulling the strap taut about the box with a pressure determinedby the strength and adjustment of the springs 171 to stretch the strapand present the overlap over the ends of the stretched strap across thebottom of the elongated arch in the castings 150 and slightly raisedfrom the sur-.

face of the box. During the operations just described, the girthformingmechanism has operated to feed forward a length of girth formingmaterial, partially form a girth, cut it ofi', discharge it in theposition shown in Fig. 9. wherein the partially formed girth rests uponthe pivot-ed guide 37 and its downturned flanges just above the projections 266 on the crimping jaws. Next. the crimper casting, carrying thepartially formed girth, descends until the crimping jaws, with the girthbetween them, straddle the overlapped ends of the stretched strap, thisoperation being effected by the cam 270 striking the roller 271, as will'be clear from Figs. 8 and 9. Immediately thereafter, the cam 280strikes the pin 281, which forces the crimping jaws together, crimpingthe girth and the strap ends to form the joint clearly shown in Fig. 17.After this. all of the strapping heads move sidewise slightly by meansof the pin 303, which forces apart the stationary roller 307 (Fig. 2)and the movable roller 306 connected to the shoe of the first strappinghead so as to move the clamping jaws sidewise with respect to the,

strap to clear it. the clamping jaws having first been moved backwardlyand thus partially released owing to the configurations of the earns 35.The skeleton platform carrying the guides 3 upon which the box issupported descends, lowering the strapped box, and as it reaches thelowermost position, the wing guides 4. are thrown back into theiroriginal position and the aligned guides 34 descend below the level ofthe stationary receiving rolls 1, leaving the box now strapped supportedupon the latter. The box is immediately trundled out of the machine anda new "box takes its place, being fed in there by gravity or by hand.

Having now described my invention, I claim 1. A machine for use-instrapping boxes including in combination means for stretching a metallicstrap or binder applied about a box or package with the ends of saidstrap in mutually overlapped relation and in alinement, and means forjoining the said overlapped strap ends by forming-simultaneously thereininterlocking tension resistin deformations. v

2. i machine for use in strapping boxes including in combination meansfor stretching a metallic strap or binder applied about a box or packagewith the ends of said strap in mutually overlapped relation and inalinement, and means for joining the said overlapped strap ends byforming simultaneously therein and in a reinforcing element'interlocking tension resisting deformations.

3. A machine for use in strapping boxes includingmeans to stretch a flatmetallic tension resisting strap or binder, applied about the box orpackage, and to present the ends' thereof under tension mutuallyoverlapped and superposed one upon the other, and in combinationtherewith means for joining said overlapped ends by simul taneouslycrimping the same, said means being capable of crimping therewith anadded relnforcing member, into conjoined interlocking tension resistingdeformations.

4. In a machine of the character described, means for passing a binder,comprising a flat strip of tension resisting box strapping, about a boxor package, means for stretching said binder and means for joining theends of said binder together.

5. In a'machine of the character described, means for passing a bindercomprising a flat strip of tension resisting box strapping about a boxor package, means for stretching said binder and means for joining the6. In a machine of the character described,

means for passing a binder, comprising a flat strip of tension resistingbox strapping, about a box or package, separate means for stretchingsaid binder adapted to cause its ends to overlap and means forsimultaneously crimping said overlapped ends to produce a tensionresisting joint. 7

7. In a machine of the character described, means for passing. a bindercomprising a flat strip of tension resisting box strapping, about a boxor package, separate means for stretching said binder adapted to causeits ends to overlap and means for simultaneously crimping saidoverlapped ends to produce a tension resi sting joint, said last namedmeans including means to apply a stiff metal reinforcing girth upon andas an element of the joint.

8. In a machine of the character described, means for passing a binder,comprising a flat strip of tension resisting box strapping, about aboxlor package, stretching means for seizing the endsiof said binder anddrawing the same tight about the box or package in mutually overlappingrelation and means for joining the said overlapped ends. 7

9. In a machine of the character described, means for passing a binder,comprising a flat strip of tension resisting box strapping, about a boxor package, stretching means for seizing the ends of said binder inoverlappe and drawing the same tight about the box or package inmutually overlapping relation and means for joining the said overlappedends, and means for disengaging the stretching means from the-overlappedends after the latter have been joined.

10. In apparatus of the class described, means to enwrap a box orpackage with a flat metal tension resisting binder under tension and toresent the ends of the binder relation, means to encircle saidoverlapped binder ends with a reinforcing girth and to thereaftersimultaneously crimp said girth and the overlapped ends intointerlocking tension resisting deformation.

11. In apparatus of the class described, means to enwrap a-box orpackage with a flat metal tension resisting binder under tension and topresent the ends of the binder in overlapped relation, means to encirclesaid overlapped binder ends with a reinforcing girth and to thereaftersimultaneously crimp said girth and the overlapped ends intointerlocking tension resisting deformation, and means to disengage saidwrapping, and .encircling and crimping means from the binder.

means to 'bmder en s upon a box or means to partially form reinforcinggirths,

.means to apply said girths upon said overlapped and tensional binderends and means to simultaneously crimp the girths and binder ends into atension resistin joint.

13. In apparatus of the class escribed, means to feed a stri of girthforming material, means to ben the edges of successive er said severedortions to another point in the machine, inc uding means to apply saidsevered portions to a box strap ends.

15. In apparatus of the class described, means to feed a flat striphaving aligned notches in its edges forward step by step, means to bendthe edges of the successive portions of the strip between successivepairs of notches, means to sever said succespair of overlapped flat siveportions of the strip, and means to transfer said severed portions 'toanother point in the machine. A

16. In apparatus of the class described,

a supply adapted to contain girth forming material comprising a fiatmetal strip, means to. feed said girth forming material from saidsupply, means to partially form successive portions of said strip, meansto sever said partially formed portions and means to transfer the sameto another part of the machine.

17. In a paratus of the class described, a supply a apted to containgirth forming material comprising a flat strlp having oppositely facednotches therem, intermittently operated means engaging with said notchesto feed the strip forward'one notch at a time, forming means toupset-the ed es of the successive portions of the strip etweensuccessive pairs of notches and means to sever the strip across thenotches.

18. In apparatus of the class described, a container for a supply ofgirth forming material comprising a flat stri having op positely facednotches therein, intermltr tently operated means engagin with saidnotches to feed the strip forwar one notch at a time, forming means toupset the ed s of the successive portions of the strip h:- tweensuccessive pairs of notches and means .to sever the strip across thenotches, crimping means, and a. guide to. transfer the severed portionsinto co-operative relation with the crimping means. 19. In apparatus ofthe class described, a su port for a box or package, a guide for fiatlnder straps located under the top face iaaaaaa of the support, means topass a flat tensional binder along said guide and under the box orpackage, means to fold said binder against the vertical sides of the boxin order' corners or elsewhere.

to surround three sides thereof.

20. In apparatus of the class described,

a support for a box orpackage, a guide comprising a central portionadapted to underlie the box or packa e, and two movable portionscommunicating therewith, means-to insert a tension resisting binder intosaid guides, means for foldin said movable portlons upagainst two sidesof the box or package whereby the aide in its folded position will applythebmder to three sides of the box or package. a

21. In apparatus of the class described, a

' support'for a box or'package, a guide comprising a central ortionunderlying the box or package and two movable portions communicatingtherewith, means to insert a tension resisting binder into said guides,

' means for folding said movable portions up a ainst two sides ..of thebox or package w ereby the guide in its folded position will apply thebinder to three sides of the box or package.

22-. In apparatus of the class described, a support for a box orpackage, a guide member for flat metallic box strapping comprising asingle portion adapted to underlie the box or package and two wingportions in communication with the central portion, said wing portionsadapted to be moved with respect to the central portion, means forinserting a binder comprising a flat metallic tension resistin strip, inthe guide member,

means for fol ing the two wing, portions a ainst two sides of the box orpackage w ereby the binder will be wrapped around three sides of the boxor package, a air of stretching jaws ada ted to receive an grasp theends of the bin or presented by the wing members, means for moving saidstretching jaws to tighten the binder about the box' or package.

23. n apparatus of the class described, in combination, a support for abox or package to be supplied with a binder, and a binder applyingelement, comprising means to re-v ceive a binder and to apply asectionthereof flatwise into substantial contact with a portion of theperiphery of the box-or package. 24L. In apparatus of the classdescribed, a support for a box or package, a device for receiving abinder, said device being adapted to fold about the box whereby thebinder in 'folda 1e member adapted to receive a binder and to thereafterbe folded to enwrap a plurality of the sides of the box or package andto bring the binder flatwise into contact with corresponding sidesthereof whereby the binder will be partially wrapped about the boxwithout substantial slack at the 26. In apparatus of the classdescribed, a foldable wrapping device having provision for receiving abinder, hinges in said foldable wrapping device to correspond to anglesin the box or package to be encircledl with the binder whereb vice isfolded the binder therein willbe bent at points corresponding to cornersof the box or package and may be a plied thereto without substantialslack at t e corners.

27. In apparatus of the class described, a jointed binder receivingmember adapted to be bent to correspond to the periphery of the box orpackage to be encircled with a binder, said binder receiving memberbeing adapted to receive a binder and to apply it flatwise intosubstantially contacting relation with a portion of the periphery of thebox or package. y

28. The method of supplying a box or package with a binder whichconsists in providing a binder receiving member adapted to be bent intoa form corresponding to the periphery of the boxor package, inserting abinder into said member and folding the member about the box or the liketo bring the binder flatwise into contact with tile kperiphery thereofwithout substantial s ac 29. The method of supplying a box or packagewith a binder which consists in apwhen the wrapping dea plying thebinder to one face of the box or to assume the periphery of a portion ofthe box or package; applying the binder to the binder receivlng member,then folding the p binder receiving member and-binder therein about aportion of the box or package to apply the binder flatwiseto each faceof the box or package substantially simultaneousl throughout t e saidface, bending the on s of the binder overthe corners of the box orpackage not enwrapped by the binder receiving member and pulling theends of the binder toward each other to completely encircle the box orpackage and stretch the binder.

31. In apparatus of the class described, a support for a box or package,a guide member for flat metallic box strapping comprising a singleportion adapted to underlie th box or package and'two wing portions incommunication with the central portion, said wing portions adapted to bemoved with respect to the central portion, means for inserting a bindercomprlsing a flat me- 4 simultaneously crimping said stretched ends bber underlyin together to form a tension resisting joint.

32. In apparatus of the, class described, a support for a box orpackage, a central guide member mounted upon said support and adapted tounderlie a box or ackage upon said support, wing guide mem ersassociated with said central guide member and in open communicationtherewith, said central and wing members being adjustable to accommodatevarious sized boxes or packages, means for raising the support, andmeans forsimultaneously swinging the wing guide members up against twosides of the box or package.

j 33. In apparatus of the class described, a support for a box orpackage, a guide memsaid support, means for guiding in a at metallictension resisting strip into said guide member, and means for severing alength of said strip suificiently to form a binder for the box orpackage, means for folding said guide member and the contained stripabout three sides of the box or package, means for, grasping the ends ofthe binder presented by said guide member after being folded andstretching the same in overlapped relation upon the box or package,means for partially forming a reinforcing girth an a plying the same tooverlapped ends, an means for thereafter simultaneously crimping thegirth and overlapped ends to form tension resisting joint.

34. In apparatus of the class described, a

-support, means for partially enwrapping a box or package upon saidsupport with a tension resisting flat metallic binder, means forcompleting the wrapping of the box or package with the binder locatedabove the support, and means for raising the support and lowering theportion of the mechanisms above the support whereby the support on theone side and the said mechanisms on the other will contact with oppositesides of the box or package.

35. In apparatus of the class described, a

support, means for conveying thereto and therefrom a box or package,means for partially enwrapping a box or packa e with a -flat metallictension resisting bin er when supported uplon said support, means forcompleting t e wrapping and forming a. joint in the overlapped ends ofsaid binder upon another side of the box or package, and means forraisingsaid support and lowering portions of'said last named means tobring the same into cooperative relation with the top of the box orpacka e.

36. In apparatus of the class escribed, a support adapted to receive abox or ackage to be wrapped, a pluralit of strap eed devices adapted tofeed an sever a length of strap to form binders about said box orpackage, wrapping devices for partially enwrapping said box or ackagewith said binders while the same is supported upon the support,stretching and joining mechanism comprising means for seizing the endsof said binders, stretching the'same in overlapped relation upon the topof the box or pac age, and means for simultaneously orming interlockingdeformations in said overlapped ends to form tension resisting jointstherein, and means for bringin the support and said stretchin andjoining means into cooperative relatlon with opposite sides of the boxor package.

37. In apparatus of the class described, means for applying a tensionresisting joint to overlapped metallic strap ends comprising incombination means for applying a reinforcing girth simultaneously toboth overlapped ends and means to simultane 100 ously crimp said girthand said ends with an interlocking tension-resisting deformation.

38.- In apparatus of the class described, means for joining the ends ofmetallic ten- 105 sional strapping, comprisin in combination means forapplying a partlally formed reinforcing irth to partially encircle boththe overlapped strapped ends and means for bending the girth tocompletely encircle 110 said strap ends, whereby said strap ends may bejoined and reinforced by a reinforcing girth while inmutually overlappedcontact.

39. In apparatus of the class described, 115 means for maintainingmutually overlapped strap ends comprising means to apply a portion of apartially formed girth to said strap ends and means to bend anotherportion of the girth around the strap ends 12 whereby said strap endsmay be simultaneously encircled with a reinforcing girth withoutdisturbing their mutually overlapping contact.

40. In a machine for strapping boxes or 12 the like, and in combination,means for a plying a fiat tension resisting metallic aaaaaae tending inthe opposite direction whereby, adjacent an end of the-binder, twoportions thereof are mutually overlapped under tension and in alinement.

ll. In a machine for strapping boxes or the like, and in combination,means for applying a flat tension resisting metallic binder to the boxor the like, and stretching means adapted to resent the opposite'ends ofa binder encirc ing the box or packa e, under tension in mutuallyoverlapped re ation, one endbeing superposed above the other end and inalinement therewith.

42. In a machine for strapping boxes, and in combination, means tosever0d a flat binder of predetermined length from a continuous striappropriate to the size of the box or the like to be strapped; means toapply said binder about the box or the like including means to presentthe ends of said sional strap to boxes or the like and in combinationmeans to apply strapping to the box orthe like, gripping means to graspthe strapping behind its ends, and adapted relatively to force one endof the strapping into under lapped relation under another portionthereof which extends in the opposite direction whereby said strap willbe presented under tension and overlapped upon itself for joining at theoverlapped portion.

44. In a machine for applying flat tensional strap to boxes or the like,and in combination, means to apply strapping to the box or the like,gripping means adapted to rasp the strapping behind its ends, and toorce said ends, projecting from said gripping means mutually past eachother in the line of the stra so as to provide superposed strap ends ina inement for a joint.

515. In apparatus of the class described, and in combination, means formaintaining the endsof a binder under tension about a box or package andautomatic means for thereafter applying to said ends a joint formingelement and thereafter forming ajoint involving said ends and saidelement. 46. In apparatus of the class described,

means for applying a flat metallic tensionalbinder about a box orpackage with the ends of the binder extending in opposite directions,and means for joining said ends together in a tension resisting joint.47. In apparatus of the class described, meansfor applying a flatmetallic tensional binder about a box or package with the ends of thebinder extendin in opposite directions, and means for t ereafterstretching said binder to cause the same to encircle the box or packageunder heavy tension.

48. In apparatus of the class described, means for applying a flatmetallic tensional age.

said binder.

binder about a box or package with the ends of the binder extending inopposite directions, and means for thereafter stretching said binder tocause the same to encircle the box or package under heavy tension, andmeans for forming a tension resisting joint in the opposed ends of thebinder..

49. In a machine of the character described and in combination, meansfor passing a tensional metallic binder about a box or package, andgripping means adapted thereafter to grasp said binder adjacent an endthereof and draw the same taut upon the box or package.

50. In a machine of the character dcscribed, means 'for presenting abinder applied on-a boxv or package, with its end portions extending lIlopposite directions,

gripping means for thereafter seizing said binder adjacent'said endportions and pull- Ill 51. In apparatus of the class described and incombination means for applying a tension resisting binder about a box orpackage, and yielding means for stretching 52. In apparatus of the classdescribed and in combination means for applying a tension resistingbinder about a box or package, and yielding means for stretching saidbinder, said last named means including means for adjusting the tensionof said yielding means.

53. In apparatus of the class described, and in combination, means forapplying a metallic tension resisting binder about .a box or package,means for thereafter gripping the end portions of said binder,tightening the same about the box or package under heavy tension,including cushioning means for regulating said tension.

54. In apparatus of the class described, and in combination, means forapplyin a metallic tension resisting binder about a ox or package, meansfor thereafter gripping the end portions of said binder, tightening thesame about the box or package under heavy tension, including adjustablecushioning means for regulatin said tension.

55. In. apparatus of the class described, means for applying a flatmetallic tension resisting binder to boxes or packages, meansforstretching said binder, includmg means fpr imparting thereto apredetermined tenslon.

56. In a machine of the class described, and in combination, means forap lying-a tensional binder to boxes and pac ages, a gripping elementfor seizing an end portion of said binder, means for moving the grippingelement to ti hten the binder, and a yielding connection Iietween thegripping element and the moving means, whereby the binder is protectedagainst overstrain.

57. In a machine of the character de-' scribed, and in combination,means for applying a cut to length binder about a box or packages, meansfor thereafter stretching said binder about the box or package,including means whereby the tension of said binder about the box orpackage may be predetermined.

58. In apparatus of the class described, and in combination, means tomaintain a tension resisting binder, under tension about a box orpackage, means to apply to the ends of said binder a joint element, and

means to form a joint in said binder ends and the joint element.

- 59. In apparatus of the class described, and in combination, means tomaintain a binder under tension about a box or package, with its endsoverlapped, means to apply a reinforcing element to said overlappedends, and means thereafter to form a joint in said ends and element.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. L

ARTHUR G. G. GUENTHER.

